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Trouble looms in Rivers State over speculations of Fubara’s impeachment.
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Ijaw leader, Asari Dokubo issues stern warning to Tinubu, Woke and Pro-wike lawmakers, threatens violence if a peaceful resolution isn’t met.
The reinstated Martyns Amaewhule-led 27 defected legislators, popularly called ” the pro-Wike lawmakers” have been alleged to plot an impeachment plan to oust the incumbent governor of Rivers State, Sir Similaye Fubara.
This development is said to be spearheaded by Martyns Amaewuhle, the speaker of the House.
Reports reaching Daily Report Nigeria indicated that this move is silently sponsored by Abuja FCT minister and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike.
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This political agenda seems to be the reason behind the fueling tension in Rivers State, aided by the Supreme Court Judgment which seemed to favor the pro-group.
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Recall that on Friday, February 28, 5-member jurists led by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim flawed Fubara’s appeal and granted the Martyns Amaewuhle-led legislators access to resume back to their offices.
The ruling which overlooked the submission that these lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), recognized their legitimacy. These lawmakers are said to be Wike’s loyalists and since reinstated, have shifted the balance of power in the state’s legislative arm.
The court also nullified the local government council election held on October 5, 2024, insisting that due process and transparency were observed by the electoral umpire, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), in organising the polls.
The Judgement also stopped release of Rivers State’s monthly allocations from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Accountant General of the Federation until the conduct of a fresh election into the state’s 23 LGAs is done.
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Since the passing of this verdict, Rivers State has been a boiling cauldron with Governor Fubara being pushed to a suffocating corner.
As if that’s not enough, the ultimatum from the reinstated legislators to the governor to present the 2025 Budget in 48 hours has been a chunk to chew.
According to the Pro- woke lawmakers, the governor’s inability to re-submit the budget proposal before them, would be seen as a breach of section 121 of the 1999 constitution and Justice James Omotosho’s Court of Appeal, Abuja’s ruling on the matter.
Can Fubara handle all these seeing that the Amaehule lawmakers have the full backing of the Apex court in Nigeria and some higher powers behind them?
The Budget he has started executing for over 2 months now? He confessed in a national broadcast that presenting the budget to the lawmakers isn’t an issue but how a budget that’s already in implementation could be resubmitted to the Assembly.
The 27 lawmakers stated through their spokesperson Amaehule that the governor’s failure to meet the ultimatum has breached section 192(2) of the 1999 constitution and may suffer grave consequences as a result.
Reacting to the undertone of Rivethe rs Crisis which is pointing towards Fubara’s impeachment, the Ijaw National Congress, INC, and the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, the umbrella bodies of all elders and youths of Ijaw Land, have respectively warned that no harm should be done to their son, Fubara or his office.
Also, Asari Dokubo, a prominent Ijaw leader has issued a strong warning to President Bola Tinubu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, and the 27 lawmakers in Rivers State, asking that they should abandon any plans to impeach Governor Sim Fubara.
Dokubo, who holds the title of Da-Amakiri Tubo and Amanyanabo of the Elem Kalabari Kingdom, stated this during a live broadcast on Facebook.
He cautioned that any move to remove Fubara from office could destabilize the state and lead to political unrest.
Although there has been no statement of impeachment from the reinstated lawmakers their actions have been gauged to tilt towards ousting the incumbent governor.
As contained in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and amended, in the event of the removal of a state governor, the constitution stipulates that the speaker of the state legislature steps in and acts as the governor for three months; after which a fresh governorship election will be held in which the acting governor is also qualified to contest.
Also, as they constituted the majority in the legislature, heightened fears brood over the possibility of an impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara, who was once a close ally of Wike but has since fallen out with him after the 2023 general elections.
In the history of Rivers State, Similaye Fubara is the only riverine person to mount the governor’s seat for twenty- six (26) years. It’s been the uplanders like Peter Odili, Rotimi Amaechi, Nyesome Wike and others on the seat since then.
Thus, the reactions from the Ijaw people who seem to be protecting their son.
Political analysts have judged that if this matter is not well handled, it could lead to uncontrolled crisis and perhaps a declaration of state of emergency in the state.
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